U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway had lunch with a room full of agriculture leaders from across West Texas Saturday during a stop at San Angelo's Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center in what he termed a grassroots listening session.

Conaway, a Republican from Midland whose Congressional District 11 includes San Angelo and the Concho Valley, stressed the agriculture economic impact made by the wool and mohair industry, not only to the region, but the Lone Star State and nation.

"Since his election, Conaway has been an advocate for West Texas agriculture and has supported many initiatives that have benefited this region including the wool and mohair research program, Pierce's Disease Research (wine grapes) at Fredericksburg and the Rio Grande Initiative for the conservation of water in the Rio Grande Basin," said Ed Smith, director of AgriLife Extension Service at Texas A&M University and host for the luncheon.

"The Obama administration, including a new agriculture secretary, has only given us their take on production agriculture in the 2009 budget, which hasn't told us much about their attitude toward the nation's farm policy in general," Conaway said.

Conaway said that as he traveled the district during Easter break, he talked to cotton growers and other commodity groups seeking their input to help him form opinions on their behalf to take back to Washington.

Conaway was criticized recently by Citizens Against Government Waste about earmarks in the latest legislation to fund wool research in Texas, Montana and Wyoming.

"The funding is a continuation of ongoing projects for wool and mohair research and not an earmark," he told me Saturday.

And he's right. The West Texas wool and mohair industry may be small in the eyes of the "2009 Congressional Pig Book" published by the group, but in reality they have no clue about the sheep industry that has been the bedrock of this region since the pioneers settled here.

The sheep and goat industry would not be here today without government funding through grants and incentive programs which have advanced service to the world through research. The funding has been a part of farm policy since the late O.C. Fisher was our congressman for 30 years in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.

Before Conaway took office, Rep. Charlie Stenholm of Abilene was the voice of the sheep, goat and cotton industries in Congress for 26 years.

So when Conaway was honored by farmers and ranchers throughout Congressional District 11 for support of production agriculture and natural resources conservation here Saturday, it was bipartisan.

Citizens Against Government Waste stated: "While 47 states have figured out that wool can be best used to make a warm sweater, Montana, Texas and Wyoming apparently are still trying to work out its practical utilizations."

Fact is, wool is produced in all 50 states. The majority of American wool is produced in areas of the western U.S. where the ground is rough and barren or in high altitudes where other animals cannot survive. Research contributes to the manufacture of wool products including fine worsted suiting, knitwear, woolen velours and coats, upholstery, bedding materials for futons, mattresses and comforters, and industrial goods.

Sheep and goat byproducts developed from research and used daily by consumers include Jell-O, Glad wrap, soap and goat cheese.

Chris Lupton, in charge of wool and mohair fiber research at San Angelo, assisted by Faron Pfeiffer, are working on a new fiber measurement system to enable U.S. sheep and goat producers to compete globally. They operate the only research lab of its kind in the nation.

"The objective measurements of animal fibers are expensive. The measurements are necessary for producers and scientists to make optimal progress in selection for superior fiber traits and to monitor the effects of nutrition," Lupton said. "They are also necessary for effectively marketing and establishing the value of the raw materials and for predicting processing characteristics for the textile industry."

The research focus is not only on wool and mohair but also cashmere and other animal fibers.

Lee Bloodworth of Sonora, president of San Angelo-based Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers' Association, told Conaway about the many successful research projects completed at the Agriculture Experiment Station between Sonora and Rocksprings since its establishment in the early 1900s.

In the heart of the Edwards Plateau, the research station has studied diseases, breeding and management, hydrology, whitetailed deer and livestock interactions, ecology, biology, and control of juniper and rangeland prescribed burning.

Pierce Miller, Crockett County rancher and past president of San Angelo-based Mohair Council of America, told Conaway about how mohair from Angora goats changed internationally from being only a luxury item in the fashion world to diversified products because of research and marketing. Today, mohair is in demand in carpets and niche products - socks, saddle blankets, throws, blankets and tack products.

Unnecessary local projects serving a few? I don't think so.